Show Faking Oil Tanker Fire Proved Difficult T Task HOLLYWOOD UP Now UP-Now Now that that- T it is all over Humphrey Bogart isn't so sure that the burning of an oil tanker for a scene in Action in the North Atlantic wasn't a contest between Director Lloyd Bacon trying to burn down stage 6 and 25 Warner Brothers firemen trying to stop him The spectacular fire with which Bacon blackened both Bogart and the interior of the big stage was well controlled and safely planned The decks and sides of the black tanker which apparently burned were made of wood and composition tion board nonpriority non priority materials completely fireproofed in advance A layer of padding used for soundproofing in the rafters of the stage was the only thing that unexpectedly unexpectedly unexpectedly un un- expectedly got scorched during all the days the scene was being filmed Bacon at the controls shot his gas-fed gas flames 20 feet above the deck After an hour on the flaming flaming flaming flam flam- ing set there was little need for either up make-up or wardrobe men mento mento mento to add touches to the appearance of those players working as members members members mem mem- bers of the tank crew They were smudged beyond recognition The fires often reached the catwalks catwalks catwalks cat cat- walks where electricians and firemen firemen firemen fire fire- men crouched They belched from cracks and regular openings in the warped hut hunt 1 of the tanker which filled the stage They burned merrily merrily merrily mer mer- rily and at times roared into action action action ac ac- ac- ac tion like a miniature volcano It was all designed to match perfectly perfectly perfectly per per- with long shots of real burning burning burning burn burn- ing takers at sea Bogart looked over at the dering tanker and shook his sooty head The babies who man those boats get my vote he said This make make- believe is tough enough On the thereal thereal thereal real tankers they dont don't have studio firemen and handy exits to help out |